Clarification regarding hyperteniosn - Isometric hold time

[Guest guest]

Hi, Further to my mail below I was tempted to do a research on the internet regarding the content of my own mail regarding hypertension below. I got this clarification " When an exercise causes a muscle to use more than about 25 percent of its strength, such as during heavy weight lifting, the pressure within the muscle increases and causes the small blood vessels (arterioles and capillaries) in the muscle to collapse. When this happens, oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the muscle. Reducing the amount of blood flowing to the working muscle

during static or heavy resistance exercise can cause temporary pain in the muscle. This lack of oxygen, called tissue hypoxia, causes a rapid increase in both systolic rate and the diastolic rate throughout the contraction. It is believed that this increase in blood pressure is the body's attempt to get oxygen to the working muscles by forcing open the arterioles. The speed and magnitude of the rise in the systolic and diastolic rates are greater as the intensity of the contraction increases and as the duration of the contraction

lengthens. This does not happen, however, if the contraction lasts for only a few seconds or if there is a rest period of at least a few seconds before the muscle is contracted again. The higher blood pressure rapidly increases the workload on the heart and can cause an inadequate amount of blood to flow to the heart muscle (myocardial ischemia) in patients with coronary artery disease. Also, the very high blood pressure reached during vigorous sustained muscle contractions could cause a stroke or the splitting of the aortic wall (where there currently is a weakness) in patients already at risk. Exercisers

should be careful to avoid holding their breaths during the contraction phase of the exercise. Called a "valsalva maneuver," holding the breath during a sustained muscle contraction reduces blood flowing back to the heart, resulting in a decreased amount of blood the heart has to pump and potentially limiting the quantity of blood flowing to the brain. Exercisers should remember to exhale on the exertion (or lifting) phase and inhale upon the relaxation (or lowering) phase." I think that throws enough light on the issue and marks as a judicious caution one has to exercise while doing any form of muscle contraction exercise. Thanks Shravan and all the others in this forum, I understood more about my problem and will start on my bull worker training again after one more month of rest but with a hold time of not exceeding 10 to 15 seconds at a time and sufficient rest period in between. Oh, it's all still the same thing. Slow and steady wins the race! Best, Dev Mumbai India 14.9.2006 evening Hi Pal

wrote: Hi, This is a comment directly to Shravan's mail below. I was left quite surprised by the coincidence of the whole thing. Some of you may be aware that I was quite active in this forum sometime back and had vanished and today I casually opened my bull worker mail and saw this. I have to add here [ though I would encourage all of you to consult your own medical practitioner to

clarify this ] that right from the second month when I started using bullworker and increased the hold time to 30 seconds and above, my blood pressure has been steadily increasing, and believe me I almost ended up getting a stroke with jaws tightening and stiffness along the medulla oblongata. I was given the highest dose of enalapril, atenolol and amlodopine combination and after 3 months, the hypertension is limping back to normalcy. You may see me as a spoil-sport in this forum always cautioning people, but believe me, there could be some reason why the normal weight bearing exercises under supervision in gyms are so popular and recommended throughout the world. I agree that I am less knowledgeable here, but please, I would like some enlightened member of this forum to guide regarding possible health hazards while being on bullworker training, because quite a lot of us

here are over enthusiastic in training, given the wonderful physical benefits that bullworker seems to offer in a very short time. I, and I think many well meaning readers here will appreciate such a discussion. Thanks and cheers, Dev Mumbai India 14.9.2006 eveningkheper04 <kheper04> wrote: I've been exploring this, too. My workouts consist of freeweightsand the Bullworker. I use the Bullworker to complete a compoundset (an exercise involving freeweights then followed immediately by a Bullworker exercise, isolating the group of muscles worked bythe freeweights). A 30 second hold time followed by a 20 second, then a 10 second is how I've been using the Bullworker in

eachof these compound sets. The long hold-time method seems to fatigue the muscles in away totally unlike freeweights. The fatigue seems to go almost bone-deep.>> Dear Friends,> Recently I read "the nautilus north study" by john little. In > that john little claimed one guy gained 9 lbs of muscle with just one > exercise session. Peculiar thing in this is the guy who gained 9 lbs > of muscle in one session held the resistance isometrically on an > average of 45 seconds for each exercise. little suggests 30-60 > seconds contraction instead of 6 second. I initially thought it is > just hype but I wanted to give a try. I am currently trying 30-60 > seconds contraction for the past 3 sessions. Taking 6 day off between

> the sessions. The muscle growth with this method is excellent. I went > from 175 lbs from 167 lbs in just 3 weeks. My biceps increased half an > inch within 3 sessions. Here is my question. > It is known fact that isometric holds increase blood pressure. Is it > medically safe (in terms of hypertension and heart health) to perform > 45-60 seconds of contraction? > > Thanks,> Sharavan Kumar> Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW

Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW

[Guest guest]

Any intense exertion whether isotonic or isometric will produce a

temporary increase in BP. If one has normal BP and stays within the

bounds of reason and good practice, this is a non-issue.

The issue with 30 second holds on the BW is that this prolongs the

BP increase. If one is stupid enough to also hold one's breath, the

BP increase will be even greater.

Obviously, if you have any health issues at all, a 30 second hold is

contraindicated. ly, ANY intense weightlifting or exertion for

folks with hypertension is contraindicated.

Moreover, there is very little reason to do isometrics with 30

second holds. ly, this is a exercise in vanity above all else.

Better to stick with 7-10 second holds and to BREATH out while doing

the hold.

Lets be careful out there!

> > >

> > > Dear Friends,

> > > Recently I read " the nautilus north study " by john little. In

> > > that john little claimed one guy gained 9 lbs of muscle with

just one

> > > exercise session. Peculiar thing in this is the guy who gained

9 lbs

> > > of muscle in one session held the resistance isometrically on

an

> > > average of 45 seconds for each exercise. little suggests

30-60

> > > seconds contraction instead of 6 second. I initially thought

it is

> > > just hype but I wanted to give a try. I am currently trying 30-

60

> > > seconds contraction for the past 3 sessions. Taking 6 day off

between

> > > the sessions. The muscle growth with this method is excellent.

I went

> > > from 175 lbs from 167 lbs in just 3 weeks. My biceps increased

> half an

> > > inch within 3 sessions. Here is my question.

> > > It is known fact that isometric holds increase blood pressure.

Is it

> > > medically safe (in terms of hypertension and heart health) to

perform

> > > 45-60 seconds of contraction?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Sharavan Kumar

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India

> > Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger

Version

> 8. Get it NOW

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India

> > Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger

Version

> 8. Get it NOW

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think there are limitations to everything and everyone. I do not recall ever reading to hold ones breath while exercising. Obviously, a 3 minute hold does not require one to hold ones breath. In high School gym class we hung from a chin bar for 2 minutes, which is a pretty good isometric hold. No one held their breath and no one had a heart attack. Initially holding ones breath only reduces the oxygenated blood flow, there is nothing that restricts the heart's volume. Breathing technique has been taught with every exercise I have tried. If one is not listening to their body when exercising, there is the INCREASE chance something could be overextended. I have never read climbing stairs causes high blood pressure... however, if one has high BP, I would be cautious how one climbs stairs. Isometric exercises can take you where you want to go

physically, but there is not a short cut if you have limitations to begin with... in fact you must be all the more stringent in your routine. I PERSONALLY have never read anyone dropping over using the Bullworker. Never heard of one having a stroke, though it is possible if your plumbing is weak to begin with. Jim Fixx died of heart disease before 50 and he was the most famous running author of his day. What wasn't said was that everyone in his family had heart disease and he lived the longest of those who were afflicted. High BP is not the best of things, but I would venture to say one has it before the workout, not because of it. One can read the medical sequence of what causes it and how it takes place... if there are still concerns about using the BW, do what some poster did and compress it 100 times. It is surprisingly difficult and you will be breathing like a steam

engine. 10 million of these were sold over 40 years and I would welcome any information about actual injury or fatality. Hate to sound like a naysayer and I am not discounting the POSSIBILITY, but rather than probability, anyone out there that developed HBP because of Isometric exercises? I refuse to comment on the 9 lb muscle increase from a single workout session.... but for those who still believe in the tooth fairy I will share this... it is impossible to gain any weight during any workout unless you ingest it in your system while you are working out. Muscle (and Fat) do not just materialize because you did or did not work out. Intake is necessary for conversion and as there is nothing that converts 100%, a large amount is required for conversion.... enough said... keep those molars under your pillow.... *** perpetualdreaming wrote: From this is sounds as though the key is to breath during the longholds. I do long holds and all has been fine and the gains are muchbetter with long holds.Think about builders or 'kullys' who have to carry heavy things fromone place to another - those are in effect isometric holds. they tendnot to have these problems and i cant say i have seen them holdingtheir breath whilst working!> >> > Dear Friends,> > Recently I read "the

nautilus north study" by john little. In > > that john little claimed one guy gained 9 lbs of muscle with just one > > exercise session. Peculiar thing in this is the guy who gained 9 lbs > > of muscle in one session held the resistance isometrically on an > > average of 45 seconds for each exercise. little suggests 30-60 > > seconds contraction instead of 6 second. I initially thought it is > > just hype but I wanted to give a try. I am currently trying 30-60 > > seconds contraction for the past 3 sessions. Taking 6 day off between > > the sessions. The muscle growth with this method is excellent. I went > > from 175 lbs from 167 lbs in just 3 weeks. My biceps increasedhalf an > > inch within 3 sessions. Here is my question. > > It is known fact that isometric holds increase blood pressure. Is it > > medically safe (in terms of hypertension and

heart health) to perform > > 45-60 seconds of contraction? > > > > Thanks,> > Sharavan Kumar> >> > > > > > ---------------------------------> Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India > Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version8. Get it NOW > > > > > ---------------------------------> Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India > Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version8. Get it NOW>

Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com